Tripura Youth Cong leader arrested for carrying arms and Takas

In a major embarrassment for the Congress, the brother of its Tripura unit president was arrested on Monday evening. Sandip Roy Barman was caught with arms, Bangladeshi currency and a few letterheads of the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) by the Assam Rifles near Agartala.

Tripura goes to polls on February 14.

Barman is the son of former chief minister Samir Ranjan Barman and elder brother of Pradesh Congress Committee president Sudip Roy Barman.

Sandip Roy Barman is the son of former CM Samir Ranjan Barman and elder brother of the Tripura Congress president.

The TPCC president later told newsmen that the arrest was a "conspiracy" hatched by ruling CPI-M to tarnish his and his family members images before the February 14 elections.

"The CPI-M has understood that people are disillusioned with the misrule by the Left and are supporting Congress. So, they hatched this heinous conspiracy to divert the people's attention and to fish in troubled waters. But I am sure people will understand the evil design and extend more support," Burman said.

The CPI(M) denied that it hatched a conspiracy to arrest the brother of Congress state president. Addressing a press conference, CPI(M) state secretary Bijan Dhar said, "We have demanded an inquiry and punishment of the guilty. We oppose the charge that our party had hatched a conspiracy to arrest him."

Dhar alleged that the police also found some documents related to the outlawed National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) from Barman.

CPI(M) spokesman Gautam Das, who was also present in the press conference, said the documents proved that Congress had some nexus with the ultras and they might try to use the ultras during the election to terrorise people. The police said some subscription receipts were seized from him. Dhar said, "We appeal to people to remain alert and also request the Election Commission to ensure peace before the elections".